Category: Cleaning Tip

Bathtub stains are a plague in many bathrooms. No one wants to take a warm, relaxing bath in a tub stained with grime, mould, mildew, or rust. Not only do these issues cause unsightly stains, but they can also cause damage to the surface of your bathtub. If left untreated, your tub can deteriorate so badly it needs to be replaced. This expensive and time-consuming consequence makes it important to clean your bathtub to treat stains and prevent bacterial growth. Here are eight tips on how to make your bathtub sparkle:

1) Prevent soap scum and mildew from forming

The most effective way to avoid bacterial growth and rust buildup in your bathtub is to prevent soap scum, mildew, and other issues from forming in the first place. Mould and mildew thrive in areas that are warm and damp; hot showers create the perfect environment in which mould and bacteria can thrive. Be sure to wipe down your walls and tub after every shower to keep your tub dry. This will prevent bacteria and mould from becoming an issue in the first place, so stronger chemical cleaners will rarely be necessary.

2) Experiment with DIY cleaners

Before resorting to commercial chemical cleaners for your bathtub stains, mould, and mildew, experiment with DIY cleaners and other household solutions. There are a wide range of DIY solutions depending on your specific issue, so do some research on the most effective methods for cleaning your tub based on its material. Combining baking soda and water can help restore a bathtub to its shiny white gloss be removing dirt and debris; white vinegar can help kill bacteria and mould. These solutions are effective home remedies for common bathtub ailments, and they are much more affordable compared to most commercial cleaners.

3) Scrub properly

Beyond the type of cleaner you use, another important aspect of getting your bathtub to shine is using proper scrubbing techniques. Whether using DIY or commercial cleaners, be sure to give them plenty of time to set into the stain, mould, or mildew before scrubbing. If you do not wait long enough, the cleaner may not be as effective. This will cause you to spend more effort than necessary on scrubbing the surface of your tub. Scrubbing in a short, circular motion helps focus your scrubbing tool to eliminate stains more effectively. Depending on the tool you are using, be sure to not scrub so hard that you scratch the surface of the tub. This can cause more bacteria, mould, and mildew growth while also promoting the buildup of rust and other minerals. Watch out for scratches in the enamel of a tub, which can be sharp against your skin and cause you to cut your foot while showering.

4) Pick the right tools

There are a wide variety of tools available for scrubbing your bathtub. Be sure to pick the right tool based on the material your bath is made of. Acrylic tubs require soft washcloths, rags, or nylon brushes to prevent scratching the surface, but they are more effective at preventing stains. Porcelain tubs often need a bit more scrubbing, making a toothbrush an effective tool. It also may require bleach or another commercial cleaner to effectively remove dark stains. Depending on the material of your tub, you may need to source different scrubbing tools and cleaners to find the most effective combination.

5) Buy a showerhead filter

Filtering the water from your shower head is another effective way to prevent the buildup of rust and other stain-causing minerals. Showerhead filters catch minerals and chemicals from your water, preventing them from staining your bathtub. Well-water is often full of natural minerals, while municipal water sources often include treatment chemicals that are damaging to bathtub surfaces. Not only will a shower-head filter make your water softer on your hair and skin, but it will effectively minimize the minerals that come through your plumbing system. While filters must be changed on an annual basis, it is a small expense for those looking to protect the surface of their tub and soften their water.

6) Properly ventilate your bathroom

Proper ventilation is crucial in preventing the buildup of rust, mould, and mildew in your bathtub. As rust and mould thrive in moist environments, it is important that your bathtub is properly dried after every shower or bath. This includes both the surface of the tub and the flat surface and corners where you store your shampoo bottles. Hot showers keep the bathroom moist and humid. This can cause mildew to form on the walls, ceiling, and shower curtain, so be sure to use a fan or open a window whenever possible. If these options are unavailable, keep the door open or take a cool shower.

7) Unclog your drain regularly

Rust and mildew can also thrive in drains that are plugged. Not only can poor drainage cause the water to collect and rise quickly in your tub, but it also acts as a hotbed for bacterial and mould growth. Be sure to clean and unclog your drains on a regular basis to prevent more serious issues from developing. Opt for a commercial drain cleaner or DIY, homemade solution to solve drainage issues. As well, invest in a metal hair trap that prevents hair from getting caught in the drain. These simple solutions will ensure your bathtub drains properly, protecting your tub from bacteria and mould.

At Maid4Condos, we understand that some people simply do not have the time to properly clean their bathtub. We offer a variety of comprehensive cleaning services for every room in your house.

For more tips on making your bathtub sparkle, call Maid4Condos at 647-822-0601 or contact us here.

Cleaning bathroom grout is a tedious task that many fail to do on a regular basis. Unfortunately, by not cleaning your bathroom grout, you are inviting mould and other bacteria to thrive. Hazardous moulds can survive on virtually any moist surface, making your bathtub, tile flooring, sink, and toilet the perfect breeding ground for mould and other bacteria. Not only is this a health hazard for you and your family, but it can also cause significant — and expensive — damage as it spreads through the walls, floor, and pipes of your home. Here are five tips for cleaning bathroom grout and preventing the spread of mould and bacteria:

1) Use the right tools

The first step to effectively cleaning your bathroom grout is to pick the best tools for the job. Opt for a brush with plastic or nylon bristles, rather than steel or other metal, as these materials will not scratch or scrape your tiles. Be sure to have plenty of rags on hand for dealing with chemicals and other cleaning agents. However, avoid using bleach on coloured tiles, as this can cause the colour to fade. For those with sensitive skin, we recommend wearing thick, plastic cleaning gloves to avoid direct contact with chemicals. Consider wearing elbow-length gloves for optimal coverage and protection.

2) Prepare the tile for cleaning

A crucial step in the cleaning process is to properly prepare the grout for cleaning. By doing this, not only will you save yourself time and energy during the cleaning process, but you will ensure the cleaning is as effective against mould and bacteria as possible. First, sweep or vacuum the walls and floor tiles to remove any dirt and debris from the surface. After this, wipe down your wall and floor tiles with a damp rag and bucket of warm water, further removing the remaining dirt and debris as well as the first layer of bacteria and mould.

3) Experiment with DIY cleaning

There is a huge variety of cleaning products on the market that can effectively clean bathroom grout. However, many of these products contain harsh chemicals and are quite expensive. Before opting for an expensive commercial product, experiment with DIY cleaning solutions made from simple products you can find around the house. Here are a few effective cleaning solutions that are both inexpensive and easy to find:

• Baking soda

Create a paste by combining baking soda with water and stirring the paste thoroughly. Once it is prepared, spread it over your bathroom or kitchen grout and leave it for approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Once it has dried, scrub with a nylon brush or old toothbrush and then rinse away the remaining paste with a damp rag. The baking soda will neutralize and kill most bacteria while also helping to remove stains and other debris.

• White vinegar

Combine two-parts white vinegar with one part water and a teaspoon of dish soap. Like the baking soda, the white vinegar kills mould and bacteria and makes it easy to wipe away dirt and debris stuck on your tiles. Spray the substance on your grout and let it sit for approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Wipe it clean with a damp rag or sponge and a combination of baking soda and warm water to neutralize the vinegar. Finally, rinse your tiles with clean water.

• Hydrogen peroxide

For cleaning cases that require a stronger cleaning substance, try hydrogen peroxide before exploring commercial cleaners. Although it is a strong chemical, it is safe for human skin, making it ideal for scrubbing the grout in kitchens and bathrooms. Fill a spray bottle with an equal combination of hydrogen peroxide and warm water. Add a few drops of dish soap and spray the cleaner on to the grout. Let it sit for approximately 10 to 15 minutes and wipe it clean. This will prevent the buildup of mildew and mould.

4) Clean regularly

Scrubbing your bathroom tiles can be a time-consuming task; and a tough job that can make you break a sweat. To make cleaning your tile grout faster and easier, practice regular cleaning to ensure that mould and mildew does not build up and become a serious problem. Wipe your walls and floors dry after a shower. This will prevent mould, mildew, and bacteria from surviving, as they thrive in moist environments. A quick clean on a weekly basis can be enough to prevent serious mould problems from developing at all. Consider using a grout sealer on an annual basis to keep it protected from moisture and bacteria.

5) Keep your bathroom ventilated

Another simple solution that can prevent the buildup of mildew and mould is keeping your bathroom well ventilated. A common cause of mould in bathrooms is that the moisture from hot showers cannot escape, helping mildew and bacteria to thrive. If you have a fan or window, use it to increase airflow after a hot shower in order to air out the room and dry up any moisture that collects in the grout. If you do not have adequate airflow, opt for cool showers and keep the door open to prevent moisture from collecting.

For more tips on keeping your bathroom and home clean, call Maid4Condos at 647-822-0601 or contact us here.

For many of us, cleaning is a chore that we put off as much as possible. After a busy day at work, the last thing you want to do is clean the house. Fortunately, a regular 20-minute cleaning routine can go a long way to ensuring your home is comfortable and clean enough for you to invite guests around. Even a short cleaning session once or twice per week can work wonders for your home. Here are a few simple methods that can help organize and speed up your cleaning process to make sure your home is tidy and inviting:

1) 10 Minutes per day

One of the most popular cleaning methods is to focus your efforts on a single room for just 10 minutes each day. For example, spend 10 minutes cleaning your kitchen on Monday, on Tuesday you can tackle the bathroom, and Wednesday you can focus on the living room. By the end of the week, you will likely have done a surface-clean and tidy-up in every room in your home. For those who work long hours or have busy social schedules, finding the time to clean your home can be a difficult task. However, sparing 10 minutes each day is something reasonable for even the busiest people, and it is manageable for those who absolutely hate cleaning. If you still struggle with scheduling time to clean, and you can afford to outsource your cleaning tasks to a professional, consider contacting a cleaning service.

2) 5/5/5 Method

We’ve all been there: you have guests coming over in half an hour and your house is a disaster. There’s a pile of laundry on the floor, dishes in the sink, and a funky smell coming from the fridge. When time is short, opt for the 5/5/5 method. This entails spending just five minutes on the most crucial tasks — the ones that you absolutely have to do to ensure your guests are comfortable in your home. Decide on the most urgent tasks and accomplish as much as you can in five minutes. This could include doing the dishes, organizing your fridge, and putting your laundry in a hamper where it is out of sight. Don’t worry about making your bed, sweeping the hallway, or cleaning the bathtub, as your guests are less likely to notice — or care about — these things. While this method isn’t a long-term solution for cleaning, it is an effective approach when time is of the essence. In just 15 to 20 minutes, you will have taken care of the most urgent tasks, and your home will feel that much warmer and more inviting.

3) Clean as you go

One of the most effective ways to reduce your time spent cleaning and prevent those painful 12-hour deep-clean days is to ‘clean as you go’. If you use dishes while making breakfast, take a minute to wash them immediately. This prevents a pile of dirty dishes from forming in the sink. It is much easier to spend a few minutes washing a handful of dishes after a meal than to spend half an hour — or more — cleaning dishes after dinner when you are exhausted and just want to relax. The same is true for the rest of your home: sweep the high-traffic areas in your house or condo once every day or two to avoid the build-up of dust, dirt, and other debris; tidy up clutter such as toys, games, activities, and other equipment as soon as you finish, rather than waiting until “cleaning day.” By performing these basic tasks on a regular basis, you prevent cleaning from becoming an overwhelming, stressful, or time-consuming experience.

4) Get rid of the clutter

To help maintain a clean, tidy, and organized aesthetic, consider getting rid of all of the clutter in your living room, bedroom, and office. Clutter, toys, and other debris that collects in the corners of your home are a breeding ground for dust bunnies and dirt. By getting rid of them, not only will your home feel more spacious, but it will also look cleaner. This can be accomplished in two simple steps: get rid of anything you no longer need or use, and then find a place to store or showcase the items you want to keep. For the things you do keep, consider shelving, tables, or other storage options to get these items off the ground and out of the way. If they are properly stored, they are less likely to collect dust and debris.

5) Scented candles

If all else fails and you simply need to make your home feel more comfortable and inviting in just a few minutes, consider a vanilla or mint-scented candle, or another fresh scent. Essential oil diffusers are a great option for those who enjoy natural scents, while candles also help to cover up unpleasant odours and give your home a sense of warmth and comfort.

At Maid4Condos, we understand that some people simply don’t have the time or energy to clean their homes on a regular basis. For those with busy work schedules and social lives, the act of cleaning can be a struggle. That’s where we come in. From a quick clean-and-tidy once a week to a deep clean on a monthly basis, we can accommodate virtually any cleaning task in your home.

For more information about our cleaning your apartment or to book an appointment with one of our cleaning professionals, call us at 647-822-0601 or visit our website here.

No one has unlimited time for cleaning. Time is usually of the essence when it comes to cleaning your home. In that spirit, we’ve listed six tips to help you clean your home faster.

Most people don’t want to spend their whole lives cleaning up their home. Why clean when you could be binge-watching a new Netflix series, catching up with friends or upping your fitness game? There are a whole host of good uses for our time, but cleaning our homes is not one of them. That said, it’s essential for us to keep our homes clean. Therefore, it’s in our best interest to clean our homes effectively, yet quickly.

Implement the following tips and you’ll spend less time cleaning your home but reap better results. Who wouldn’t love that?

1) Clean Top To Bottom

When you clean a room, start with the highest objects first. That means your ceiling fan, your top-level shelves, and wiping down your window dressings. When you clean high-off-the-ground items, dirt falls down to the floor.

Cleaning top to bottom should be your strategy for every room. It may be tempting to start with cleaning the floors since they’re the biggest job, but this will actually waste more time. If you start from the ground and work up, then dirt will fall back onto your freshly cleaned floors, making them dirty once again. That means you’ll need to clean your floors a second time! So much for saving effort.

2) Get Everyone To Take Off Their Shoes

Shoes and boots track in a major amount of dirt and mud from outside. When members of your family come home, make sure the first thing they do is take off their boots. That way, your mudroom is the only place that takes a beating.

You’ll spend less time sweeping and mopping if a firm “no shoes in the house” rule is implemented. And you’ll be a lot less frustrated by a fresh cleaning job being ruined by someone running inside because they forgot something!

3) Sort Some Laundry

Doing a thorough laundry sort isn’t always a time saver, but don’t disregard sorting entirely. It’s important to separate lint givers and lint catchers. Towels, knits and corduroy have an annoying habit of picking up lint. You’ll spend a lot of time painstakingly picking lint out of your sweater if you wash it with the wrong items. Your black leggings? It’s frustrating to have them dotted with white lint.

You don’t have to sort everything, but try to make at least two piles of clothing. You’ll save lots of time and hassle in the long run.

4) Don’t Pre-wash Dishes

It may seem like a good idea in order to get stuck-on grime off your dishes, but studies show it’s actually not effective. It’s a waste of time, water and soap to pre-wash your dishes before loading them in the washer. Now you can load your washer without guilt, and make better use of your cleaning time.

5) Let Your Cleaner Sit

When you spray cleaning solution on a mess, don’t wipe it up right away. The cleaning solution needs some time to interact with the mess and gradually loosen it. A few minutes is ideal to let your cleaner sit on stuck-on grime. Then, when you wipe it away you’ll get your surface truly clean. If you don’t let your cleaner sit, then it will take multiple passes to do the same job, wasting both your paper towels and your elbow grease.

6) In The Pros

Hiring a professional cleaning service to do a seasonal deep clean of your home is a huge time saver. They’ll do a thorough job of cleaning, so that all you have to do afterwards is touch-ups. Professional cleaners get behind furniture, clean your stove, and take care of all the jobs that usually fly under the radar. It’s much quicker and easier to maintain a clean home than to try and manage a huge mess. If you’re short on time, then the pros can really help you out!

To make cleaning faster and more enjoyable, make a routine around it. Designate a few minutes out of the day, throw on your favourite music and do a cleaning sprint. You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish in even ten minutes. Cleaning isn’t really so bad, and it doesn’t take hours of cleaning a day to keep your home looking great. It just takes a consistent routine, and mindfulness for following some simple cleaning rules.

If you need a cleaning magic bullet to help deal with your busy schedule, call Maid4Condos at (647) 822-0601 or contact us here. Maid4Condos is the premier cleaning service in the GTA, with amazing service and great rates. Contact us today to discuss how we can get your place looking shiny and new!

The holidays are a time of hustle and bustle when they’re upon us. With tons of Christmas parties, school events, shopping and travelling, we’re abuzz with activity leading up to New Year’s Eve. After the holidays are over, we can finally take a breath.

There’s so much going on over the holidays that it can be hard to keep up with cleaning. With company coming over, our homes undergo a lot more foot traffic. Now that the holidays are over, it’s time to tackle the mess.

Regular deep cleans are good for your home. They help your furniture and appliances last longer, give you a newfound appreciation for your home and let you take a good look at the condition of important elements like HVAC and fire detectors. After the holidays is a perfect time to do a deep clean. You’ll have a sparkling new home again, and will have taken care of the tough cleaning jobs until next season.

Here are 5 reasons you should do a post-holiday deep clean:

1) Your Kitchen Worked Overtime

Everyone loves hanging out in the kitchen during holiday parties. It’s where the food is. All the prepping, cooking and serving action really wreaked havoc on the kitchen though. Grease splatters everywhere and the stove gets dirty from drippings and fallen bits, not to mention the fingerprints all over cupboards, and the state of the sink.

Your kitchen is so well used over the holidays, cleaning it thoroughly can seem like a daunting task. This is a good room to call in the pros for. Sometimes it takes practiced cleaning techniques to clean off the really stuck-on gunk.

2) You’ll Rest Better In A Neat Bedroom

Feeling a bit restless after the holidays? You’re not alone. It can feel like the chaos is neverending when you sleep in a messy bedroom.

A messy bedroom is psychologically not as restful as a neat and tidy one. Luckily, it’s not too difficult to get your bedroom back in order. It’s a matter of clearing away all laundry, washing bedding, vacuuming upholstery and wiping hard surfaces. If you want to go the extra mile, you can also clean off doorknobs, light switches, baseboards and window ledges.

3) Reset Your Living Room

If you have kids, you know they camp out in the living room over the holidays. It’s where the games are, and where they have enough floor space to tumble. Kids live rather in the moment, which can lead to food and drinks flying, tipped over furniture and dirty boots making their mark.

Your living room should be the anchor of your home, but it can’t be if it looks like a stampede of wild animals just ran through it. To bring your living room back to life, start by cleaning the walls, then move on to vacuuming or mopping the floors. With the major cleaning jobs done, wipe down all small furniture items, picture frames and figurines, and do general tidying up to restore the living room’s layout.

Make sure you clean under and behind living room furniture. Sofas are notorious for storing dirt, dust bunnies and small bits of food underneath. It can be hard to check in on every inch of your living room. This is another area where it’s worth it to have a professional cleaner’s experienced eye look your living room over.

4) Bathrooms Are A Mess After The Holidays

Bathrooms, we had to go there! Few rooms show the chaos of the holidays as prominently as the bathroom. Especially if little kids are present, it gets messy quick.

The bathroom is most people’s least favourite room to clean, but the upside is that it’s small and composed of smooth surfaces. Your bathtub/shower will need to be wiped down, with special attention paid to its enclosure structure. Of course inside, outside and around the toilet will need to be cleaned. After that, wipe down counters, walls, sinks, faucets and mirrors. Your bathroom will be shiny again in no time.

5) Your Laundry Room Is Overrun

One room that gets neglected over the holidays is the laundry room. Getting laundry done is the first priority, not paying attention to the actual laundry room.

As part of a post-holiday deep clean, we recommend cleaning your dryer’s lint trap, wiping down both your washer and dryer, clearing the air vent and cleaning the floors. This will make your laundry room safer, and ensure every corner of your home looks great.

After the holidays is the perfect time to do a deep clean. The hustle and bustle of the holidays always leaves a considerable mess behind, and during the deep clean you can give your home a thorough inspection. You’ll have a beautiful clean home, ready to take on the rest of the winter. Don’t want to go through all the hassle? Maids4Condos offers all of the above-mentioned services and more in our Deep Cleaning package. Call us at (647) 822-0601 or contact us here, for more information.

Pets are some of the best members of our families, even though they shed like crazy! Torontonians certainly love their animals. Any time you look outside, you can see devoted dog parents taking their little ones for a stroll, and dog parks are teeming in the summer. As for cats? Cat people and their feline charges are rather inseparable.

It’s all love until cleanup time. That’s when you start discovering hair in the carpet, in the couch, in your clothing and in your bed! How does one little critter produce all that fluff? And how do you even begin cleaning it up? It can feel like the work of a small cleaning army to get your house or condo back to normal. And even if you do clean all the hair up, won’t it just reappear within a day?

Part of the responsibility of pet ownership is cleaning up after them constantly. Certain breeds of animals involve more vacuuming and laundry. We’re talking about the top tier fluffers, the hairiest woofers, the shaggiest doggos…you get the picture.

You need to clean up all that hair if you want to live in your own home instead of a fortress of fur. Animal hair piling up can aggravate allergies and asthma, damage your furniture and make it hard for people to come visit. Follow our handy cleaning guide to get started on de-fluffing your home.

1) Floors

If you have hard floors, try an electrostatic broom to catch all the pet hair, such as a swiffer. Vacuuming pet hair off hardwood surfaces simply kicks everything up into the air, making it a self-defeating task. There will always be more hair to clean, and you’ll be wondering what weird cleaning purgatory you’ve landed yourself in. Since swiffers use one-time use cloths, you can go with the environmentally friendly option and use a microfiber cloth if you like. It has the same electrostatic charge that attracts pet hair to it.

If you have upholstered floors, that’s a different story. A good trick is to begin with sprinkling baking soda over your floors. This has the double effect of loosening up pet hair while neutralizing carpet odours. Give your carpets a good vacuum, paying special attention to the edges of the room (dirt, dander and hair tend to collect the most there).

An alternative to heavy-duty floor cleaning days is to invest in a robot vacuum, such as a roomba. It never stops vacuuming, so pet hair never becomes a problem. Plus, it’s worth the cost just to see the look on your pet’s face when it meets its new housemate.

2) Furniture

For wood or otherwise hard surfaced furniture, take the same tack as you did with hardwood floors. A damp microfiber cloth does a great job collecting pet hair.
For upholstered sofas and chairs, you can use the nozzle extension of your vacuum. This works, but there are other furniture tricks that can yield better results in a shorter time. Wet a sponge, rubber glove or squeegee and pass it all over your furniture item. The pet hair should form an impressive ball. Just make sure to let your chair or sofa fully dry before your pet resumes “their spot”.

If your pet has a particular place they love to cuddle up, make it even cozier for them by placing a soft microfiber blanket on top. They’ll love the extra padding to sleep on, and you’ll save your sofa from being a fur-collection zone. Throwing a blanket in the wash is easy–cleaning out hair from the smallest crevices of your sofa is not.

3) Keep Up On HVAC

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning is important to check on regularly, but even more so if you have a pet. Pet hair, dandruff and dirt circulate through the air and can clog up vents, adding to wear and tear and can even become a fire hazard if left too long. Neglecting your vents is also a prime cause of airborne allergens. If anyone in your home has skin or immune system sensitivities, then cleaning out your air vents will help them out substantially.

4) Take Them To The Spa

Ok, your pets may not feel like they’re at the spa when you take them to the groomer, but we can project, right?

One of the best ways to cut down on the abundance of pet hair in your home is to brush them regularly and take them to the groomer every so often. You’ll be removing their hair yourself in a controlled, contained way, instead of letting them shed all over your couches. Your pets will also be much more comfortable without that itchy, sheddy hair!

Having pets is a joy and a half, but their hair is like the roommate no one invited. It can be a pain to clean up all the hair that finds its way into every nook and cranny of the home, but not if you’re diligent about keeping up with the task. That way, pet hair never becomes a monumental chore, and you get into the habit of keeping pet hair at a manageable level. Still, it can feel like a never-ending battle sometimes: you against your pet hair, microfiber cloth in hand and a few loads of laundry. Don’t despair, just bust that pet hair!

Nothing does the job like a professional. Instead of drowning in pet hair, call a certified cleaning wizard to help bring your home back to its former glory. Maid4Condos is a residential condo-cleaning service located in the Greater Toronto Area that offers master-class trained, secured and bonded cleaning experts. Call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us here.

You probably spend quite a few hours each week on household chores when you could be spending them with your friends and family. However, with a busy life schedule, it seems almost impossible to balance the need for a clean living space with well-deserved downtime. For this reason alone, it is totally worth it to have a weekly house cleaner. You will find that the money you spend on a cleaning service is not nearly as valuable as the few extra hours of free time you will surely have.

Below are a few points to convince you that you have been missing out.

1. Choose what you pay for

House cleaners generally charge $80-$100/hour. The location of your home, cleaning needs and extra service charges can significantly raise your rate, so ask for a detailed estimate! You also need to take into account how much of your personal time you’re saving. A cleaning service may cost you money but it is saving you valuable time and that is indispensable.

At Maid4Condos, we go above and beyond the regular call of duty by allowing clients to pick and choose which amenities they would like to pay for. When you visit our website, we will walk you through a series of questions to give you an on-the-spot quote for your service and allow you to decide how much money you want to spend. The questions you can expect to answer include:

• Your postal code
• How many bedrooms you would like cleaned
• How many bathrooms you will be including in your package
• Your home square-footage
• The cleaning type (basic, basic plus, move-in/move-out, and deep clean options available)
• The option to add ‘extras’ (Cleaning inside your fridge, stove, windows, balcony and laundry)
• Frequency (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly and one time)

2. Independent cleaners vs. large cleaning companies

Typically, large cleaning companies do charge up to 50% more for their services than independent cleaners. The reason for this is that large companies do the work of making sure that their clients will always be safe, secure and comfortable, while an individual with no name backing their work can’t necessarily ensure their legitimacy. However, if an independent cleaner feels right for your needs, and price-point, it does not mean that there aren’t amazing people out there that would be a perfect fit for your home. But, on average, when you hire a large cleaning service, you will be covered if something goes wrong or items start going missing. That is because companies like Maid4Condos are licensed, bonded and insured, and run background checks on all employees.

Specifically, when you work with us at Maid4Condos our detailed checklists, 100% certified employees and 24hr Cleaning Service Guarantee, will make you feel relaxed. Our team is Master-Class trained, bonded, reliable, fully insured and background checked for your security and comfort.

3. Have more time to enjoy the things you love

When you hire a house cleaner you will have more time to enjoy the thing you love doing and not just the things you have to do. Face it, cooking is more fun than doing the dishes, and snuggling with your kitten is better than cleaning the toilet—at least for the average person. Why not pay someone else to do the things you don’t enjoy doing?

If you are on a budget, make a list of the things you really need help with. Knowing your limits will help keep your service costs as low as your stress will be. Come home to a clean house on Friday after a long work week instead of a disastrous mess. Our services allow you the luxury of spending more time relaxing and enjoying your life.

4. Love what you have

When you hire a cleaning service you won’t be able to turn back once you experience all the benefits for yourself. Suddenly your chores will be easier to do—or entirely disappear.

When you hire Maid4Condos, you can expect us to take care of your cleaning needs is meticulous attention to detail, fair pricing and convenience. At the end of the day, we’re not just cleaning—we are giving you peace of mind!

If you have any questions or wish to contact Maid4Condos, visit our website call (647) 822-0601 or contact us here to talk to a representative today!

With so many different cleaning companies on the market, it is hard to know what you should expect from a house cleaning service. So many companies offer their services at different prices and boast a variety of amenities that you may or may not even need.

That is why we are here to tell you that the number one thing your cleaning service should do is make you fall in love with being at home, time and time again. If you are considering whether a cleaning service is right for you, this article will help you make the right decision.

Typical services offered by cleaning services

While all cleaning companies will vary a little bit, this is what’s generally considered to be a routine clean-up:

• Thorough cleaning of kitchens and bathrooms
• Vacuuming throughout the house
• Mopping
• Making beds
• Dusting all surfaces, including baseboards and light fixtures

At Maid4Condos, we go above and beyond the regular call of duty by allowing clients to pick and choose which amenities they would like to include in their cleaning package. When you visit our website, we will walk you through a series of questions to give you an on-the-spot quote for your service. The questions you can expect to answer include:

• Your postal code
• How many bedrooms you would like cleaned
• How many bathrooms you will be including in your package
• Your home square-footage
• The cleaning type (basic, basic plus, move-in/move-out and deep clean options available)
• The option to add ‘extras’ (Cleaning inside your fridge, stove, windows, balcony and laundry)
• Frequency (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, and one time)

With Maid4Condos there is no wait time or closed doors; we pride ourselves on offering a 100% transparent service with 100% satisfaction guaranteed!

Look for a company that offers a personal touch

Don’t want strangers in your home? Neither would we! When you consider hiring a maid service, it is a good idea to make sure that you are hiring a credible agency. The last thing you want is for your household items to walk away on you suddenly.

Some safety and convenience features we offer clients include:

• Timely and flexible service—we work around your schedule!
• We only provide reliable, Master-Class trained and certified staff to clean your home
• We want you to feel safe and secure opening up your home to us. That is why we provide a worry-free and convenient experience
• We boast excellent customer service representatives that will go above and beyond to meet your needs
  Our company is fully insured
• All of our staff are bonded and covered by WSIB

Timeframe

You should always expect that your cleaning service is willing to fit into your schedule—you don’t want to deal with the inconvenience of unpredictability that risks a cleaning crew arriving at inconvenient times.

Depending on your cleaning needs and budget, you can arrange for cleaners to come weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or even just once. Based on these choices you should be able to negotiate a suitable time and day for your cleaning to occur. We recommend that you decide on a time that will work on a consistent basis, so there is never any confusion.

Other questions to ask your cleaning service

Cover all our basis and ask the right questions. Besides reading online reviews and requesting formal contact references, you should always confirm that the service you are considering is appropriately licensed, insured and bonded.

• Will the same cleaning person or team be sent each time?
• How will you get into the home? Many companies allow the homeowner to decide on the home-entry method. It should be up to you how we access your home!
• What’s your policy if something is broken or stolen?
• Do you conduct background checks on employees?

With our detailed checklists, 100% certified employees and 24hr Cleaning Service Guarantee, we will leave you feeling relaxed and your home sparkling clean. We are not just strangers coming to clean your house, we are your partners-in-clean whose mission is to bring ‘that spark’ back to your home. Our team is Master-Class trained, bonded, reliable, fully insured and background checked for your security and comfort.

When you hire Maid4Condos, you can expect us to take care of your cleaning needs is meticulous attention to detail, fair pricing and convenience. At the end of the day, we’re not just cleaning—we are giving you peace of mind!

If you have any questions or wish to contact Maid4Condos call (647) 822-0601 or contact us here to talk to a representative today!

I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re thinking to yourself, “clean a dishwasher? Isn’t the purpose of a dishwasher to clean things?” Yes, your dishwasher is designed to clean your dishes, but sadly it can’t clean itself. Over time, your dishwasher can start to collect food particles. If your machine is filthy, it can begin to smell and slow down, or even impede, the washing process. The result of not cleaning your dishwasher regularly is that it could potentially start making your dishes come out dirty. So, to keep your dishwasher in perfect working order, we recommend washing it on a regular basis or whenever a funky smell starts to creep in.

Fortunately for you, the process involved in cleaning a dishwasher is simple; it takes no time at all and anyone can do it. When you follow these simple steps you can keep your dishwasher—and dishes—sparkling clean:

A few essentials to make the job easy and mess-free:

• A clean dishcloth or sponge
• Dish soap
• A dishwasher-safe container
• A pair of rubber gloves
• Vinegar and lemon juice (optional)
• Stainless steel cleaner
• Steel wool
• Clear nail polish

Step #1: Empty your dishwasher and remove all attachments

Before you begin, you need to make sure that you empty your dishwasher and remove all accessories from the interior. It goes without saying that there can’t be any dishes inside when you clean the dishwasher. You are also going to need to remove the racks and blade from inside and place them in your sink to be washed and cleared of any gunk or unwanted residue. I promise it will be gross, and it might even stink, but slap on those rubber gloves and get to work—it will be worth it when you see how much cleaner your dishes are!

Step #2: Wash the filter

The filter in your dishwasher covers the drain at the bottom of the machine and stops food particles from getting caught and plugging up your plumbing. A clogged filter can result in overflows and should be cleaned more often than the routine cleaning of your dishwasher (that’s the hope anyway). To remove the filter, unscrew the knob on the top of it and lift the screen out. Keep those gloves on and give your filter a good cleaning with warm water and soap. Use your sponge or clean dishcloth to provide it with a good scrub. I recommend letting it air dry before putting it back into place.

As a side note, if you have any trouble with your dishwasher filter, your owners manual should give you an idea of how to remove and perform maintenance on it.

Step #3: Clean the dishwasher seal

The seal refers to the rubber or plastic band that runs the all around the inside of your machine and meets the door when it is closed to stop water from escaping onto your kitchen floor. Much the like seal in your washer that has probably eaten a sock or two, to keep it clean, use a cloth and warm water to wipe it down and make sure that it is not broken or obstructed in any areas.

Step #4: De-clog the water sprayers

Much like a showerhead, the spraying arms in your dishwasher need to be cleaned to maximize the amount of water coming out. Running at full cleaning power, you will notice that after you scrub the water sprayers down that, your dishes come out much cleaner than before.

Step #5: Get rid of funky and unwanted smells

If you are noticing a funky smell coming from your dishwasher, there is an easy way to freshen it up using baking soda. If you want to try this method, sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda on the bottom of your dishwasher and let it sit overnight. In the morning, run a normal wash cycle with absolutely nothing inside the machine. When the period is complete, you will notice that the baking soda has removed any stains and bad odours from your dishwasher.

Step #6: Wash away any rust from the latch

I get it: you might be dealing with an old, trusty, dishwashing friend that you haven’t gotten around to replacing. The problem you may be experiencing is that after a few years of continuous use, you may be noticing rust forming on the select areas of your dishwasher that come into frequent contact with water. To remove the rust, rub the spots down with steel cleaner and steel wool. Rise the treated spot and buff it dry with a dry cloth. To finish, coat it with clear fingernail polish to waterproof the metal and prevent further rust growth to that spot.

That’s it! That’s all you have to do to clean your dishwasher thoroughly. Simple, right?

If you have any questions or wish to contact Maid4Condos call (647) 822-0601 or contact us here to talk to a representative today!

So you hate doing the dishes, cleaning out your fridge or taking out the garbage. Who doesn’t? The problem that arises from neglecting these important chores is that you are jeopardizing the health and safety of yourself and your entire family. Keeping your kitchen area clean will help protect against bacteria, promote positive mental wellbeing and may even save you money.

Below are eight reasons why you should consider keeping your kitchen clean your most important household chore.

1. Prevent food-related illnesses 

One of the biggest, if not most important, reasons to keep your kitchen clean is food-related illnesses due to rotten food or cross-contamination. Food-related illnesses are most likely to affect children and the elderly, but anyone can easily get a nasty case of food poisoning, at the very least. The primary diseases that you don’t want hanging around your kitchen include Salmonella, Campylobacter, pathogenic E. coli and Listeria.

To prevent food-related illnesses, regularly clean out your fridge and cupboards by discarding rotten or out-of-date produce, meat, and even canned items. In addition, making sure your cooking surfaces, cutting boards included, are clean and sanitized can also help reduce the risk of contraction.

2. Live and play with ease

Family life seems happens in the kitchen—probably because that is where the food is. With this in mind, whether you are having a night in with the family or hosting a dinner party with the neighbours, don’t be surprised if you find your guests and family abandoning the living room for the delicious kitchen smells.
When you see your kids If your playing a card game on a clutter-free table and your mother-in-law enjoying a cup of wine while leaning against your clean kitchen counter, maintaining a clean kitchen will seem worth it.

3. Keep your expensive appliances lasting longer

Appliances are expensive and the prices seem to be on the rise all the time. Why waste your hard earned money on new kitchen appliances when you can clean and care for the ones you already own?

Face it, your fridge, range hood, dishwasher, toaster, coffee maker, dishwasher and other appliances will all work more efficiently when they’re clean, and efficiency means a longer life. When a vent or filter are clogged, an appliance has to work harder to function properly. Over time, cumulative neglect will not only leave your appliances looking and feeling dirty and greasy but you will have to spend the money to replace them.

4. Know what food you have in your cupboards

When you keep your kitchen clean, you can better manage what food you have, and when it goes bad. Decaying food will produce odours and sometimes bacteria that can escalate the decline of other foods, not to mention attract unwanted critters (including mice, fruit flies, cockroaches and even rats).

5. Be safe

Cleanliness is as much about aesthetics as it is about safety. We already touched on food-related illnesses, but what about that oil slick left on the stove threatening a grease-fire or the overflowing garbage or recycling bin filled with sharp metal cans and the glass cup you broke yesterday? The kitchen is the one spot in your home where water, electricity, heat and sharp objects meet, and keeping this space dirty and disorganized could mean putting yourself in harm’s way.

6. Have more free time

Cooking is more enjoyable with a clean and clutter-free counter space. Trying to cook dinner surrounded by breakfast dishes is stressful. If you develop the habit of cleaning up after each meal, you will have less work to do, and you can probably get a few extra minutes of well-deserved rest after a long day at work.

7. Set the standard

Creating and maintaining a clean living environment for your family is going to set a standard for how you want your home to be kept at all times. If you keep your kitchen clean, your family is more likely to respect that space. If not, the mayhem of uncleanliness will probably start to show up in other rooms or areas of your life. Besides, if you do have kids, how you keep your home is going to influence their habits later in life, so lead by example and keep your kitchen clean!

If you have any questions, visit our website or call Maid4Condos at (647) 822-0601 or contact us here to speak to a representative today!